Triumph TRW 500cc Military

We have made this brief history page as there is currently very little information on the internet about the Triumph TRW. We also have a wide range of spares for these bikes, for example, complete engines/gearboxes.

Triumph TRW 500cc Side Valve MK3 The Triumph TRW was designed in 1943, but by the time the bike was finished, the war was over and the military had a surplus of bikes left over. In 1948 the TRW was released in it's final form and were sold to the British Army as well as other branches of the military, at home and abroad. This continued until the 1960s.

The 500cc side valve engines were used with many of the commercial productions machines in order to keep costs low.
MK1
MK2    Magneto Model
MK3    Coil Ignition

The TRW was used by various countries for Military purposes around the world, including; Canada, Pakistan, Holland, Germany, South Africa...

Classic Motorcycle January 1994: "In a production run from 1950 to 1964 Triumph turned out 15,939 machines. Some reached other arms of the British services, but the vast majority were exported."

Burton Bike Bits now have a very large range of parts and spares for TRW models. See below or search our catalogue using part numbers.

Triumph TRW Parts

Below are a few of the parts which we have available for TRW. Contact us for more info.

All of the below are Genuine NOS unless stated otherwise. Some parts are boxed, obviously we do now want to rip the boxes open.

Part #	Description	Photo (Click To Enlarge)
37-007A (W7A)	Triumph TRW Taper Rear Wheel Bearings Genuine NOS
57-0025A (T25A)	Triumph TRW Kick Start Quadrant Genuine NOS
57-0889 (T889)	Inner Chaincase Cover Triumph TRW
57-1275 (T1275)	Primary Chaincase Cover (Alternator Type) Genuine New Old Stock, in Army Packaging
57-1336 (T1336)	Triumph TRW Gearbox Assembly Also suitable for Triumph Rigid 3T/5T/T100/6T
57-1336KIT	Triumph TRW Gearbox kit, For self assembly Also suitable for Triumph Rigid 3T/5T/T100/6T
60-0247 (D247)	Front Brake Cable Triumph TRW
60-0263 (D263)	Black Flexible Battery Box complete with 2x Sealed for life 6V, 4.5Amp Batteries (Can be used as 6v or 12v) Reproduction
70-2297 (T2297)	Triumph TRW Timing Cover (In original army packaging)
70-2324 (E2324)	Conrod for Triumph TRW Genuine NOS
70-2354 (E2354)	Oil Pump Ass, Genuine New Old Stock
70-2795S/S	Stainless Oil Pressure Release Valve, with indicator button UK Made reproduction
70-3067 70-3054	Triumph TRW Cylinder Head Genuine NOS
70-3108 (E3108)	Engine Sprocket 19T Other sizes available (17T/21T/22T/23T/24T) Triumph TRW
70-3524 (E3524)	Triumph TRW Cylinder Barrel 63mm bore, Genuine New Old Stock, Ex Canadian Army, Still wrapped in original Canadian Army Packaging Barrel only, Pistons available separately
70-5813KIT (E5813)	Contact Breaker Housing, c/w points plate, A & R etc
82-1731 (F1731)	Right Hand Front Footrest Triumph TRW
82-3079	Triumph TRW Sump Guard Genuine NOS
82-3114 (F3114)	Carb Inlet Hose Rubber Triumph TRW NOW SOLD OUT!
82-3363 (F3363)	Triumph TRW Rear Number Plate Reproduction
97-0382A	Triumph TRW Fork Stanchions UK MADE, Reproduction
97-0566	Triumph TRW Front Mudguard UK Made Reproduction
26WH/1552	Solex Triumph TRW Carburettor
26WH/2	Solex Carb Overhaul Kit
CP105	Triumph TRW Pistons in Std/+20/+40
ENTRW-ASS	Triumph TRW Engine Kit - Most major parts needed to assemble engine
ENTRW-2B	Triumph TRW Engine c/w Carb and distributor MK2 and MK3 available Reconditioned (by Canadian Army)
LU466168	Alternator Stator, Hexagon Triumph TRW
LU838591	Triumph TRW Wiring Harness MK2 (PRS8 Switch, DKX2A Distributor)
MC123	Triumph TRW Wiring Harness MK3 (Coil ignition, twin contact breaker) UK Made Reproduction

Triumph TRW for Sale

Make : Triumph

Model : TRW

CC`s : 500 cc

Year : 1956

Frame number :TRW 25113NA

Now Sold

Triumph TRW Register

We are putting together a register for the Triumph TRW to establish where the bikes currently reside, their condition, and where they were originally shipped to.

Please contact us with any details you have and any photos, old or new.

Also join the TRW Discussion Group

Engine/Frame #	Year	Shipped to	Current Location	Condition
TRW 6128NA	1951	Saudi Arabia	Leeds, UK	BTH Ignition, on the Road
TRW 14304NA	1951	Cape Town, South Africa	Mablethorpe, UK	Original Condition
TRW 23323NA	1955	Unknown	Tonbridge Wells, UK	With Engine 25822XNA
TRW 23834NA	1956		Eindhoven, Netherlands	Restored, Purchased from Wiekenvorst, Belgium in 1981/2
TRW 23858NA	1956		Eindhoven, Netherlands	Restored, Purchased from Wiekenvorst, Belgium in 1981/2
TRW 24004NA	1956
TRW 25107NA	1956	Sold "in the crate" at Gagetown NB, date unknown to me	Hagersville, Ontario, Canada	Mostly engine and transmission parts
TRW 25113NA	1956	Originally went to Canada, then Germany	Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan	Original, 1717 miles on the clock. Taken out of the crate in 1991.
TRW 25132NA	1956	Sold "in the crate" at Gagetown NB, date unknown to me, as were a number of other machines in the Fredericton area, 2 others of which still existed in1979 by my personal knowledge, 1 complete in a garden shed, very well cared for, 1 in parts and for sale.	Hagersville, Ontario, Canada	Complete, running
TRW 25607NA	1957	Canada	Quebec, Canada	Brand new, out of the crate.
TRW 25823XNA	1957		Birmingham, Alabama, USA
TRW 25869NA	1957	Canada	BC, Canada	Undergoing Restoration
TRW 26045NA			Barber Museum, Alabama, USA	Restored, Ex Steve McQueen
TRW 26155NA	1957	CFB London Ontario, Canada then CFB Esquimalt for disposal	Victoria, BC, Canada	New Original, fresh out of crate + 33 miles (I had to try it)
TRW 26546NA	1957	Pakistan	Arvada, Colorado USA	Bike came to the US via New Orleans from Pakistan or India and is black.
TRW 26889NA	1957	Pakistan	Arzignano - VI (Italy)	Undergoing Restoration
TRW 27489NA		Malta, Navy	Gozo, Malta	Restored, Navy Trim
TRW 27611NA		The original engine having seized and showing some internal damage from a previous failure (after leaving the Army it had had three owners before me and it looked like it had been 'well used') I acquired engine 27611NA in September 1997 from an advert in Old Bike Mart. Having fitted it to my bike and got it running there was a distinct absence of oil pressure. The engine was taken out and stripped and rebuilt (not by me) but no change. It was looked at again but the problem could not be solved. I then saw engine 29439NA, again in OHM, so I got that and it has been running fine ever since	Erskine, Scotland
TRW 29024NA	1964	MOD/Army Contract No. 3231 and was made in October 1964. (Contract No. 3231 ran from 14 October 1964 to January 1965 and comprised of 515 motorcycles, reduced from 618) My TRW was demobbed at some point between 29 April and 2 May 1969 when it was sold at MOD Auction No. 100 at Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.	Erskine, Scotland	Unrestored but fitted with different engine (29439NA)
TRW 29133NA	1964	MOD, London	Oetwil am See, Switzerland	Undergoing Restoration
TRW 29195 NA	1964		Eindhoven, Netherlands	Restored, Painted Red
TRW 29257NA	1964		Eindhoven, Netherlands	Undergoing restoration, Purchased from JV Motors in Zwartsluis
TRW 29384NA	1964		Fetcham, Surrey, UK	Basically all there, but needs some tlc to make it road legal. At some point it has been hand painted matt Army green which is peeling
TRW 29439NA	1964	re-conditioned in January 1970 at 37 Rhine Workshop, REME, Moenchengladbach, West Germany	Erskine, Scotland	In 1998 it was still bolted to the original base with the grease seal on top of the pistons at TDC still intact. Now fitted in 29024NA
TRW 29459NA	1964		Lincolnshire, UK	Dismantled
TRW 29556XNA	1964		Birmingham, Alabama, USA
TRW 29571X	1964	Canada, 10/01/1965	Norwich, UK	Engine Only
TRW 29579XNA	1964	MOD (Army)	Colchester, Essex, UK	Original but under restoration
TRW 29386NA	1964	MOD, 05/12/1964	Norwich, UK	Complete

Key; Green is MK1, Blue is MK2, Red is MK3, White is unknown at present

Customer's Bikes

Wayne Dowler's Triumph TRW in West Vancouver

David Will's Air Force Blue TRW

Chris Hollis' TRW in Norwich

John Reilly's Triumph TRW in it's original crate at the unveiling day at the SideCar Cafe

What Year is My Trw?

Below you can find the year of your bike using the engine numbers.

Engine Number	Year
14401N - 14459N	1950
6044NA - 14320NA	1951
22001NA - 223838NA	1952
22839NA - 23273NA	1953
23274NA - 23322NA	1954
23323NA - 23597NA	1955
23598NA - 25447NA	1956
25448NA - 27127NA	1957
27128NA - 27175NA	1958
27176NA - 27346NA	1959
27347NA - 27645NA	1960
27646NA - 28185NA	1961
28186NA - 28464NA	1962
28465NA - 28827NA	1963
28828NA - 29605NA	1964

Thanks to Chris Hollis for providing this info.

Technical Specifications

Also see the Triumph TRW MK2 Handbook

Bore	63mm
Stroke	80mm
Capacity	499cc
in/ex valve dia	1.14"
In/ex valve inclination	2 from vertical
Compression Ratio	6:1
Con-Rod Centres	6.5
Spark Plug	NGK, B7HS
Gudgeon pin dia.	0.625"
Valve Timing:
Inlet Opens BTDC	16
Inlet Closes ABDC	56
Ex Opens BBDC	56
Ex Closes ATDC	16
Valve Clearance (time)	0
In Valve Clearance(cold)	0.002"
Ex Valve Clearance(cold)	0.004"
Ignition Timing	21
Ignition Timing Piston	0.125"
Points Gap	0.012"
Valve Seat Angle	45
Valve Lift ex/in	0.30"
Valve Spring Free Length	1.812"
Carburettor	Solex Type 26 WH-Z
Primary Chain	1/2 x 5/16
Rear Chain	5/8 x 3/8
Front Tyre	3.25 x 19
Rear Tyre	4.00 x 19
Front Brake dia	7"
Rear Brake dia	7"
Petrol Tank	3 (Imp Gal) 3.6 (US Gal)
Oil Tank	4 (Imp Pint) 4.8 (US Pint)